Timer and distributor mechanism



TIMER AND DISTRIBUTOR MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 7, 1932 T 1 IE-1 Qwvemto? July 16, 1935.

W. G. SCHNEIDER TIMER AND DISTRIBUTOR MECHANISM Filed May 7, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gwuentoz W////@//7 C1. Same/dew Patented July 16, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE to The Electric Auto-Lite Company,

Toledo,

Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application May 7; 1932, Serial No. 609,846

11 Claims.

This invention relates to devices for use with internal combustion engines and more particularly to a combined timingand distributing mechanism employed in electric ignition systems for timing and distributing the ignition current for such an engine.

The invention contemplates the provision of an improved device of this character in which the time of occurrence of the ignition sparks may be controlled in accordance with the varying speed of an engine with which it may be used, the-invention particularly embracing a simple construction o1 a speed responsive means or a governor mechanism having a number of parts fabricated of. metallic sheet material.

The invention further embraces the incorporation of suitable means for connecting movable parts of the governor mechanism toeliminate lost motion and aid inbalancing uneven forces acting upon the parts, thus decrease noises during the operation of the device.

The invention also contemplates the provision of means associated with the speed responsive means and connected therewith to modify the action of the speed responsive means so that a variableincrement of spark advance may be obtained at certain predetermined speed.

Further objects and advantages are within the scope of this-invention such as relate to the arrangement, operation'and function of the related elements of the structure, to various details of construction and to combinations of parts, elements per se, and to economies of manufacture and numerous other features aswill be apparent from a consideration of the specification and drawings of a form of the invention. To illustrate a practicalapplication of the invention a timer and distributor is shown, asis a governor mechanism used in connection therewith. The timer selected as an example is shown in the accompanying drawings and described hereinafter.

Figure 1. is a vertical sectional view of the timing and distributing device incorporating the present invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the mechanism shown in Figure 1 with the capremoved;

Figure 3 is a view showing theassembly of the speed responsive mechanism;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the parts shown in Figure 3, the weights being shown intheir innermost position;

Figure 5 is a top plan view ofthe parts shown in Figure 3; the weights being shown in thei outermost position;

Figures 6; '1" and 8' are top plan views of the governor weights in different operating positions;

Figure 9' is a side elevation of the governor weight;

Figure 10 is a top plan view of the parts shown in Figure 9; 5

Figure 11 is an enlarged View of a portion of the governor weight showing the method of assembly;

Referring to the drawings in detail, the operative parts of the combined timing and distribut- 10 ing mechanism of this invention are suitably enclosed within a cup-like housing 5 having a downwardly extending portion 6, the cup-like portion of the housing 5 supporting a distributing cap or cover 8. Theportion 6 serves as means for adjustably supporting the device with respect to the engine and affords an elongated bearing surface for' a drive shaft I0, the latter being provided with a suitable means I I for establishing a driving connection with an engine from which shaft ID derives its energy. The distributor cap 8 is preferably fabricated of suitable insulating material and is detachably mounted upon the casing 5 being secured thereto by means of a plurality of resilient clips I2 pivoted upon brackets I3 secured tothe housing 5; The housing 5 is separated into 2 compartments by means of a plate I4, the plate being held in place by a plurality of screws I5, the latter being threaded into projections I6' forming parts of the brackets I3. The brackets I3 serve a dual purpose of providing a securing means for the plate I4 and supportsfor the-resilient clips I2.

The drive shaft II! is adapted to fixedly carry a support or plate I8. The plate I8 is provided with pins forming pivotal supports for governor weights 2|, each weight being formed of a plurality of metallic laminations which are held together by means such as rivets 22. These weights are normally held at their innermost or normal positions by means of contractile springs 2'4; the inner ends of the springs being looped over members pivotally carried by the weights, the outer ends of the springs being secured to L- shaped members 26 riveted or otherwise fastened 45 to the support I8. The member 26 is adapted to be distorted to vary the tension of spring 24. The upper endof shaft I O loosely receives a cam member 29 to which is secured a transversely extending flanged plate 30, the latter having slots 3I 50 into which project pins 32 carried by the governor weights 2|. The slots in the plate 30 are so arranged that outward movement of the weights 2I cause the pins 32 to transverse the slots and at the same time rotate the cam member 29 rela- 5 bracket 34 having a threaded opening adapted to receive the threaded end of a relatively stationary contact member, the latter being adjustable and capable of being locked in adjusted position by means of a lock nut 31. The contact 36 is adapted for engagement witha contact 38 supported upon one end of an arm 39 pivoted upon a pin ll] also 7 supported by the plate I l. The arm 39 is suitably insulated from the pin 40 by means of an insulating member ii, the arm being urged toward the contact member 33 by means of a spring 42 and a current conducting member 33, one end of these members being secured to the arm 39 in any suitable manner, the other endsbeing fixedly secured by means of a screw 35 to a terminal member 46 suitably insulated from the plate M. The breaker arm 39 is provided with a suitable-lug or cam follower. 1'! preferably of insulating material which is adapted to be intermittently engaged by the lobes of the polygonal shaped cam-member 29 in a manner particularly illustrated 'in Figure 1. Obviously each lobe of the cam engaging the lug il causes the c'ontact38 to be separated from the stationary contact 36, this separation acting to interrupt the primary circuit toproduce the ignition spark." r

' Mounted upon an'extension 50 forming a par of the cam member 29 is a current distributing member 52 preferably fabricated of insulating material and carrying a. current distributing member 53. The high tension connection from the usual ignition coil (not shown) is brought to the'center terminal 55 from whence the current is distributed through the member 53 to the several terminals 56 corresponding in number to the cylinders of the internal combustion engine with which my device may be used.

In the operation of a governor controlled ignition system the intermittent actuation of the breaker arm by the cam lobes causes a hunting action of the governor mechanism because of the unbalanced forces set up when the cam lobes come into contact with the breaker arm and in leaving the same. In addition, I have foundin prior devices, where the conventional governor mechanism is used, that they are not particularly adapted for rapid acceleration as the rate of spark advance does not satisfy the engine conditions, and that the incrementis absolutely dependent upon several factors among which are spring tension and point of operation of the spring on the governor weight.

In order to eliminate these diificulties, and obtain rapid acceleration, I have found that a higher degree of advance is required at certain predetermined engine speed. With my device the in crement, of advance movement of the cam is changed at a certain predetermined speed and the same is not absolutely dependent upon spring tensionand mass but upon the novel arrangement of parts. The tension of the spring doesnot proportionately increase with respect to the movement of the weight, the lost motion being absorbed and rendered effective by the hereinafter described mechanism.

Substantially triangular shaped hooks or members 25 have been provided whichare secured to the governor weights 2! in a suitable manner'as by the rivets 23. On one side of hook 25 is the cam surface 21, on which pin 32 is adapted to travel. As shown in Figures 6, 7. and 8, the gov- 2,0os,e47 I ernor weights move outward, and at the same time pin 32 rides the cam surface 21 to provide a substantial advance of the cam member 29.

During such movement of the speed responsive means there is very little tension on the springs or resilient members 24, until the pins 32 reach the outer limits of the cam surfaces 21 after which the springs 24 apply greater resistance to sirable shaped cam surface 21, many difierent initial rates of advance of the spark are possible.

7 In the form showrnit will be obvious that in addition, as the governor increases speed, the cam and pin'will tend to smooth the action of the weights and reduce any otherwise uneven resiliency of the spring 24. By this means lost motionexisting between the plate 30 and the pins 32 will be taken up or absorbed so that the uneven torqueor hunting action is-reduced to a minimum. a 1

In the operation of the device it willbeobvious from the foregoing description that the shaft l0 being rotated in synchronism withan internal combustion engine with which this device is adapted to be used, will rotate with it the cam 29 which operates to intermittently break the primary circuit through the interrupter contacts 36 and 38, the secondary current being suitably distributed by means of the conductor 53 carried by the distributor arm 52. ,As thejspeed of the engine increases, thegovernor weights 2| tend to pivot outwardly about the pins 20 and the pins 32 traversing the slots Si in the plate 33 causes the cam member 29 to be proportionately ad.- vanced in accordance with the engine speed so as to correspondingly advance the time of firing the charges in the cylinders of the engine. Upon initialoutward movement of the weights, the cam 29 will be advanced rapidly until the pin 32 is adjacent the outerlimit of the cam 21 and upon further outward movement of the weights the cam 29 is further advanced, .andit will be noted that any lost motion between the moving parts is greatly reduced by the cam actionso asrto prevent noises arising from operation, of the movement of parts, In' order to modify the rate of spark-advance of the device, the contour and shape of the slots 3! as well as the cam surface 21 may be changed to vary the rate and amount of movement of the cam member 29 relative to the shaft l0.

It isapparent that, within the scope of the in; vention modifications and different arrangements may be made other than is herein disclosed, and the present disclosure is illustrative merely, the invention comprehending all variations thereof.

What I claimis: j

1. In a deviceof the character disclosed the combination of a housing; ga,driving member 7 within said housing; a cam member supportedby said driving member,:-said cam member'being revolvable withand movable relative to, said driving member; a speed responsive member associated with said cam member; guiding means for said speed responsive member including a.

2. In a device of the character disclosed, the combination of a housing; a member within said housing; a cam supported by said member and rotatable therewith; a plate carried by said member; a speed responsive member supported by said plate; connecting means for said speed responsive member including a projection carried by said speed responsive member and a slot carried by said cam; and means for controlling the effectiveness of said speed responsive member, including a retractible member and a link element carried by said speed responsive means and operatively connected between said speed responsive member and said plate.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of a housing; a member in said housing; a cam movable with respect thereto and rotary therewith; a plate carried by said member and rotary therewith; a guide carried by said cam; speed responsive means interposed between said plate and said guide adapted to move said cam relative to said member, said speed responsive means including a pivoted weight, a link element pivotally mounted on said weight and a resilient member carried by said plate and said weight having an operating connection with said guide and stop means for said link carried by said weight.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination of a housing; a member in said housing; a cam movable with respect thereto and rotary therewith; a plate carried by said member; a guide carried by said cam; speed responsive means interposed between said plate and said guide adapted to move said cam relative to said member, said speed responsive means including a weight pivoted to said plate, a link element carried by said weight and a resilient member positioned between said plate and link element.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination or a housing; a member in said housing; a cam movable with respect thereto and rotary therewith; a plate carried by said member; a guide carried by said cam; speed responsive means interposed between said plate and said guide adapted to move said cam relative to said member, said speed responsive means including a weight pivoted to said plate, a link element carried by said weight and resiliently connected to said plate.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination of a housing; a member in said housing; a cam movable with respect thereto and rotary therewith; a plate carried by said member and rotary therewith; a guide carried by said cam; speed responsive means interposed between said plate and said guide adapted to move said cam relative to. said member, said speed responsive means including a laminated weight pivoted to said plate, a link element pivoted to said weight and having limited movement with respect thereto and a spring secured between said plate and said element to oppose outward movement of said weight.

'7. A speed responsive mechanism for ignition timers in combination a driving member; a cam movable with respect thereto and rotary therewith; a slotted guide carried by said cam; a weight adapted to move said guide and cam relative to said driving member upon rotary movement thereof; and means to retard the movement of said weight including a link carried by said weight and having a cam surface therein, a resilient member interposed between said driving member and said link, and a pin supported by said weight adapted to coact with said guide.

8. A speed responsive mechanism for ignition timers in combination a driving member; a cam movable with respect thereto and rotary therewith; a guide adjacent said cam; speed responsive means to move said guide and cam relative to said driving member upon rotary movement thereof; and means to retard such movement including a link carried by said speed responsive means and having a lost motion connection with said speed responsive means, and an adjustable resilient member connected to said driving member.

9. A governor weight including a plurality of lamina-tions; a link pivotally carried between said laminations; a pin carried by said weight; and spaced surfaces on said link adapted to coact with said pin so as to limit the relative movement between said weight and said link.

10. A governor mechanism including a weight; a link connected to said weight; a pin carried by said weight; said link formed with an opening, the walls of said opening adapted to coact with said pin to limit the relative movement between said weight and said link.

31. A governor mechanism including a laminated weight; a link pivotally carried by said weight; a pin carried by said weight; surfaces on said link adapted to contact with said pin to provide limited relative movement between said weight and said link.

WILLIAM G. SCHNEIDER. 

